Table of Contents
How deep do you saw cut concrete?
A good rule of thumb is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. For a 6-inch-thick slab, that means cutting 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Ensure that the saw cut depth meets the structural engineering specifications.
Should you saw cut concrete?
In addition to depth of contraction joints, saw cut timing is critical to minimize random cracking. In general, saw cut joints should be installed as soon as the concrete is sufficiently hard to resist tearing and raveling and before random cracking occurs.
Can I cut concrete with a skill saw?
Contractors and homeowners use circular saws to cut large pieces of wood, metal, brick, plastic and even concrete. These saws provide a great deal of capacity and precision, but cutting concrete with a circular saw is not an easy job for beginners.
How soon after pouring concrete should you saw cut?
Joints should be sawed as soon as the concrete can withstand the energy of sawing without raveling or dislodging aggregate particles. For most concrete work, cutting should take place within the first 6 to 18 hours and never beyond 24 hours.
How do you cut concrete by hand?
Use your dominant hand to grip the back handle and push the blade forward and backward. Begin cutting at the edge of the concrete and slowly follow the chalk line. Don’t press the blade into the ground—let the weight of the blade and saw do the work. Remove the blade every 30 to 45 seconds to avoid overheating.
What happens if you don’t cut concrete?
Cutting too early can mark the pavement surface as well as cause joint raveling. Late sawing can result in random concrete cracks. Shallow cracks aren’t sufficient to prevent uncontrolled cracking while deep cuts are excessively labor intensive and undermine the aggregate interlock in the concrete.
How do you cut a 4 inch concrete slab?
Use a standard circular saw, equipped with a corundum or diamond blade, for small tasks. For slabs, it’s best to cut through the top inch, then use a sledgehammer to break off the rest. The jagged edge left below the cutting line provides a good rough edge for the new concrete to bond to.
Do you push or pull a concrete saw?
Always let the saw do the work; simply guide its direction, but don’t push it down into the concrete. You only need a quarter-inch cut at this point, but if the saw bites in a bit deeper, that’s fine too. This first guided cut will ensure you keep your cuts straight during the rest of the project.
How many times do you float concrete?
For a really smooth finish, repeat the troweling step two or three times, letting the concrete harden a bit between each pass. At first, hold the trowel almost flat, elevating the leading edge just enough to avoid gouging the surface.
Can you cut concrete with a chainsaw?
The hydraulic-powered Lynx LCC31 concrete cutting chainsaw from Stanley Hydraulic Tools will cut concrete (wire or rebar reinforced), brick, block, masonry and stone. It can cut square corners for openings and wall cut-outs, as well as plunge cut into walls and make full-depth cuts at one pass.
Can a plunge saw cut concrete?
Plunge cutting will effectively cut concrete, reinforced concrete, conduit, brick and other masonry.
How long will a diamond blade last cutting concrete?
According to experts, a low-quality diamond blade can only last around 12 hours of non-stop cutting, while high-quality blades can cut materials up to 120 hours.
Does a concrete driveway need expansion joints?
Every concrete slab, inside (basements, garages, etc.) or outside (driveways, patios, entries, etc.) are required to have joints every eight feet horizontally and vertically. Expansion Joints provide space between concrete slabs as a buffer for expansion on hot days and contraction when it is cold.
Why do you cut lines in concrete?
To prevent sidewalks from cracking in random spots and breaking apart, builders make lines in sidewalks. The technical term for sidewalk lines is contraction joints. Contraction joints are placed in fresh concrete before the concrete dries and has a chance to create its own joints, which we call cracks.
Do you need to put expansion joints in concrete?
Expansion joints are virtually never needed with interior slabs, because the concrete doesn’t expand that much—it never gets that hot. Expansion joints in concrete pavement are also seldom needed, since the contraction joints open enough (from drying shrinkage) to account for temperature expansion.
